The Negro and Fusion Politics in North Carolina, 1894-1901 by Helen G. Edmonds

Author:Helen G. Edmonds [Edmonds, Helen G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, United States, State & Local, South (AL; AR; FL; GA; KY; LA; MS; NC; SC; TN; VA; WV), Social Science, Ethnic Studies, American, African American & Black Studies
ISBN: 9781469610955
Google: ALf6oTLngcUC
Publisher: UNC Press Books
Published: 2013-01-01T16:07:23+00:00

We get the Sheriff, Treasurer and two Commissioners, which will be satisfactory, but we could not under any circumstances agree to support any Negro for the Legislature. I suggest that you write Mr. Fountain [Republican] and urge him to change the proposition so as not to require any support from us for their Legislature candidates [Negroes].55

The Negroes were not duped by the Democratic cry of Negro domination because they knew two things: (1) they did not hold positions commensurate with their voting strength, and (2) their white Republican leaders were not always on the square with them. A glowing example of dissatisfaction within the Negro group was evinced in a mass convention held at Raleigh on November 4,1897, at which time The Lincoln Republican League was formed. This dissatisfaction is borne out in the following report concerning the convention:

It was called in protest against giving all the offices, save 10, to the 30,000 white Republicans, and it is said this insulted the 120,000 negro voters. Resolutions were adopted calling on all negro Republicans hereafter to vote for no man opposed to giving the negro full recognition; that in the future before any man is nominated negroes should exact a written pledge that he will give half of his clerical force to the colored Republicans; that all nominees shall give a pledge in favor of negro education; and that colored men who are willing to trade them off for office should not be nominated.56

In contradistinction to the allegation that Governor Russell handed out positions to Negroes promiscuously is the reply from one of the most prominent Negro politicians of the period to a Negro office-seeker: “I enclose herewith a letter to Senator Pritchard. You would hardly ask me to do more. The Governor has not granted a single request I have made of him since he became Governor.”57 Governor Russell’s refusal to honor John Dancy’s request may have been motivated by the fact that the latter belonged to the Republican faction which supported Oliver H. Dockery as a possible gubernatorial candidate in 1896 against him.58 On the other hand, the Governor made few Negro appointments.59 Irrespective of Democratic assertions, Governor Russell was conservative and cautious in regard to appointing Negroes to offices.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.